1. Except as provided in subsection 2, any person who knowingly
separates or surgically alters normal, healthy, functioning genital
tissue of a female minor is guilty of a class C felony.

2. A surgical operation is not a violation of this section
if a licensed medical practitioner performs the operation to correct
an anatomical abnormality or to remove diseased tissue that is an
immediate threat to the health of the female minor. In applying
this subsection, any belief that the operation is required as a
matter of custom, ritual, or standard of practice may not be taken
into consideration.

3. In applying subsection 2, any belief that the operation
is required as a matter of custom, ritual, or standard of practice
may not be taken into consideration.

Approved March 17, 1995
Filed March 20, 1995

Notes From Jody McLaughlin:

The bill was originally written to protect all minors and non-consenting
individuals, However Duane Voskuil, PhD, (e-mail dvoskuil@tic.bisman.com
- phone 701-222-3777) and I were unsuccessful in finding a legislator
who was willing to be the primary sponsor of such a bill. A legislator
wanted to sponsor a bill protecting females only. She modified the
bill to reflect this by adding the word "female" (as above) and the
bill immediately had a full slate of sponsors.

The bill passed unanamously in both houses and Governor Ed Schaefer
signed it into law three days later.

The language of this law will provide comprehensive protection
to all children as soon as the courts, as well as society determine
the ethical problems and unconstitutionality of prohibiting the surgical
alteration and separation of genital tissue of one gender and not
the other. The language of this bill will also prohibit the forced
separation of the synecial connections of little girls labia (refered
to as "removing labial adhesions" (sic) in medical terms) as well
as the more commom practice of premature foreskin retraction of male
infants and boys. Female minors are now protected from the standard
medical practice of routine episiotomy (our culture's FGM). All women
would also have this protection if a last minute oversight had not
removed the words "and non-consenting individuals" from the last draft
of the bill.

Let us know if you have any questions or would like additional information.